Lexington considering an anaerobic digester

A local desire to get “greener” and a push by the state to ban large institutions from discarding food waste into landfills has prompted Lexington to consider housing one of the state’s first anaerobic digesters on municipal land.

The digesters use micro-organisms to break down organic materials, such as food and yard waste, and create ”biogas,’’ primarily methane, that can be burned to produce electricity, and leftover material that can be used as fertilizer.

Lexington recently began a series of meetings to inform residents about the process, and gather feedback on whether the community will support setting up an anaerobic digester on the former landfill property on Hartwell Avenue.